Remains of castle stand on a hill between Darlington and Stockton

You may not realise it at first glance, but a mound of earth on the outskirts of a village between Darlington and Stockton is actually the impressive remains of a medieval castle.

The remains of Bishopton Castle, sometimes called Conyers Castle, is thought to have been built in 1143 and stands at Castle Hill on the outskirts of Bishopton.

Motte and bailey castles are medieval fortifications introduced into Britain by the Normans. They comprised a large conical mound of earth or rubble - the motte - surmounted by a palisade and a stone or timber tower.

The impressive remains at Bishopton features a 40 feet high motte or mound that formed its centrepiece and surrounding double ditches that are thought to have been flooded by the nearby Bishopton Beck as an additional defence. The surviving motte is a Scheduled Ancient Monument.

Earthworks of motte and bailey castle at Bishopton. Picture: DAVID SIMPSON

It is possible that the fort constructed by Roger de Conyers at Bishopton was built on the site of an earlier earthwork perhaps of Danish origin. 

De Conyers built the castle during a dispute with William Cumin, who laid claim to be the Bishop of Durham - de Conyers supported Cumin's rival, William of St Barbara

Cumin was a Scot working on behalf of King David and had been a close confidant of Bishop Rufus.

Cumin and David, the King of Scotland saw the opportunity of seizing Durham as at that time there was an ongoing civil war between the supporters of King Stephen of England and the Empress Matilda who claimed the English crown.

Cumin ousted de Conyers from his role as the Constable of Durham Castle, and seized Durham Castle from where he began his tyrannical rule of the bishopric.

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De Conyers took refuge at Bishopton, where he fortified his manor house that withstood the sieges of Cumin’s army.

When the true Bishop of Durham, William St Barbara, arrived in his bishopric he took refuge with Conyers at Bishopton Castle.

St Barbara attempted to visit Durham City and take up his office but was attacked by Cumin’s supporters at St Giles church, Gilesgate. St Barbara took refuge again at Bishopton and then at Thornley which he had fortified.

He headed north to Northumberland but was attacked by borderers working for Cumin. He then took refuge at Jarrow church and then fled to Lindisfarne where he heard news that Thornley had been lost.

Thornley had been captured by Earl Henry of Northumberland working on behalf of Cumin and King David.

Cumin seems to have gained widespread support across Northumberland and Durham. In Durham, only the Escollands, Bulmers and de Conyers himself opposed him amongst the lords of the manors.

In 1143 the three lords almost captured Cumin at Kirk Merrington church which he had fortified - but Cumin escaped.

Eventually, however, it was the failure of Matilda, on whose support Cumin relied, in the civil war, that led to Cumin’s surrender and St Barbara’s eventual instalment as Prince Bishop. 

Had history had taken a different course, Northumberland and Durham might have ended up permanently located within the kingdom of Scotland.

* Thanks to North East historian David Simpson for his help in compiling this feature. Read more on the history and culture of the region on at his website: englandsnortheast.co.uk/

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